Parental Responsibility

The following people have Parental Responsibility:

• Mothers, whether they are married or not;
• Fathers, if they were married to the child’s mother at the time of the child’s birth;
• Unmarried fathers, provided the child was born after 1 December 2003 AND provided that the parents jointly registered the child’s birth;
• Those who have a residence order in force in their favour;
• Those with an adoption order in their favour; and
• Those appointed the child’s guardian.

If you do not have Parental Responsibility, you can obtain it the following ways:

• Seek the mother’s agreement to re-register as the child’s father on the birth certificate;
• Seek the mother’s agreement to enter into a Parental Responsibility agreement;
• Apply to the court for a Parental Responsibility order;
• Be appointed the child’s guardian;
• Obtain a residence order in your favour;
• Obtain an adoption order in your favour;
• Step parents and the civil partners of parents are able to obtain Parental Responsibility if both parents with parental responsibility agree, or by a court order.

We understand that not seeing your child every day is one of the hardest things about separation.

Our specialist solicitors can support and advise you as to your practical and legal options, tailored to your circumstances, as we know that every family is different.